'Tis the season

[fenchurch]

I just got the next to last batch of cards out in the mail!

I did a final tally and between relatives and friends, we're sending out around 75 cards this year! Yowza! Not bad considering last year was the first year we managed to send out *any*. At this point, the only cards left to go are for a few people I added to the list a bit late (after running out of cards), and some relatives I don't see very often and want to actually tell them what we're up to nowadays (IOW, I need to take the time to print up some sort of letter).

Hopefully, I haven't missed anybody... and there may be one or two of you who get two cards, because about halfway through the process, I lost track of what I had done and sent (I did mention this is only the second year I've done this, didn't I?). I figure next year I should have a whole system developed for doing this...

I also braved the post office and got a few packages sent... those self-help kiosks are wonderful, even if they are a bit clunky. It would have been much nicer and more efficient if I could have run more than one transaction at a time... especially where I was paying with my debit card.

Comments

[econopodder.livejournal.com]

My system, which I've developed over the last ten years for doing about 80 cards a year:

Most important: set up a manila envelope **right now** labelled "2005 envelopes/letters." As every card comes in to you, stick its envelope & anything else in there -- esp anything with an address on it.

Then at the end of the card season, take out your envelope & your address list, & update as needed. Also put a note by each address saying when you updated it. That way, you'll no longer stare at a cousin's address going, "Didn't he move in the last couple years? Is this the new one or the old one?"

As for doing cards themselves, my routine is to sit down with my address list & write up the envelopes first. (The tech alternative would be updating & printing the labels.) Then I can carry the envelopes with me to wherever (I like coffee shops, but your mileage may vary) & use them as a guide to writing up the cards -- as in, "okay, Aunt Martha....what do I want to say to Aunt Martha?") I keep both piles in order, and then sit down to stuff card with letter in envelope. Then I go through & seal everything (usually requires tape). Very last passthrough is for address labels & stamps.

This all takes a while, but the sense of accomplishment is molto bene when it's done.

[econopodder.livejournal.com]

Forgot to say: I actually keep the big manila envelope, esp at least the holiday letters in it. It's surprisingly fun to go through it years later & remember what everyone was doing at a particular point.

Also forgot to say that I note in my address list whether I sent &/or got a card in 05 from that person. Not having sent me a card doesn't mean you won't get one from me the next year, but having sent one pretty much ensures you will.